DOH detects 890 more COVID-19 BA.5 Omicron subvariant cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it detected 890 additional BA.5 Omicron COVID-19 subvariant cases.

This brought the total recorded BA.5 Omicron subvariant cases to 1,997.

According to DOH assistant spokesperson Usec. Beverly Ho, in the last genome sequencing run, all regions detected the BA.5 Omicron subvariant except for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos).

Meanwhile, nine returning overseas Filipinos tested positive for the BA.5 Omicron subvariant as well, said Ho.

Of the 890 additional cases, Ho said the majority or 823 have already been tagged as recovered while 31 are still undergoing isolation, and 36 are being verified.

“Sa kasalukuyan hindi pa natin natutukoy ang exposure ng mga individual, at inaalam pa ang travel history ng mga ito,” Ho said in media briefing.

(We are still determining how they were exposed and looking into their travel histories.)

Meanwhile, 18 additional BA.4 Omicron subvariant cases were also detected by DOH, bringing the total BA.4 Omicron subvariant cases to 71, the DOH spokesperson said.

Ho said 17 have already been tagged as recoveries, while the remaining one is still undergoing isolation.

The agency also recorded another 15 cases of the BA.2.12.1 Omicron subvariant, said Ho, of which 14 have already recovered while one is still under isolation.

This brought the total recorded BA.2.12.1 Omicron subvariant cases to 154.

Health experts have previously warned that COVID-19 Omicron subvariants are highly transmissible and can evade vaccine protection.

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/MUF/abc